The killer of Auckland teenager Emily Longley was beaten up and his cell was torched after he pinned photos of her to his walls and bragged about getting fan mail, reports say.

Elliot Turner, who is appealing his life sentence in a UK prison for murdering the 17-year-old, has been moved to a new area of the jail following the attack, according to British newspaper The Daily Star.

The paper reported Turner was attacked after he plastered pictures of Longley on his cell walls and talked about the day he would be set free from HMP Swaleside in Kent, to a life of "champagne, Bentleys and birds".

The 20-year-old also showed other inmates mail he said was sent by "fans", which led to him being bashed.

It is believed Turner told guards about the attack which may have led to his cell being torched.

A source at the Category B prison told the Star: "Turner is a gobby little prick who has had it coming for some time.

"Even when on remand he was bragging that he would be cleared.

"He still goes around protesting his innocence, telling people he'll be out soon."

Turner was in convicted in May last year of strangling Longley in his bed at his parents' Bournemouth home in 2011, and was jailed for a minimum of 16 years.

In sentencing, Justice Linda Dobbs told Turner - who claimed he grabbed Longley around the throat in self defence - that his lack of remorse was "chilling".

"You have deprived a tight-knit family of a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece and cousin.

"Your arrogance during your relationship with Emily Longley, during your time on remand and even throughout this trial has been breathtaking. Your lack of remorse is chilling."

Turner's parents, Leigh, 53, and Anita Turner, 51, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice, and were each sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment.

Longley was born in the UK but moved to New Zealand with her parents at an early age. She had travelled back to Bournemouth in Dorset to continue her study.